SEMA 2015: COPO Camaro v Cobra Jet Mustang
Rivalry between Chevrolet's Camaro and Ford's Mustang is hotter than ever as they prepare to do battle down the quarterThis week Chevrolet -- with the help of Courtney Force (daughter of drag racing legend John Force) -- revealed a design concept of its latest limited-production drag car, the 350 cubic-inch supercharged V8 COPO Camaro.
Chevrolet will also offer the COPO – an acronym for Central Office Production Order, which is GM code for dealer supported special projects -- with a naturally-aspirated 427ci V8. Only 69 will be built during 2016.
In North America, you will be able to order the COPO Camaro directly from the Chevrolet Performance parts catalogue #20169562, provide your credit card details and keep an eye out for the postman.
The COPO Camaro is based on the new sixth-generation Camaro, which is slightly downsized, lighter and stronger than the previous Australian-engineered generation, but won't be sold here.
Extensive computer-aided engineering helped to increase body structure rigidity by 28 per cent and decrease body-in-white mass by 60.5kg, but the gen-six COPO Camaro benefits further from greater aerodynamic performance to go with its extra grunt.
A day after Chevy revealed its COPO concept, Ford unveiled the latest variant of its famed Cobra Jet Mustang. Only 50 of the unique Cobra Jets will be built to satisfy NHRA Stock and Super Stock drag racing regulations.
Ford has developed a supercharged variant of the 5.0-litre Ford Coyote V8 and is talking confidently that the Cobra Jet will turn eight-second quarter-mile times off the trailer.
The first Cobra Jet to be based on the new-generation Mustang relies heavily on off-the-shelf parts. Although it employs a four-link solid rear axle instead of IRS, the Cobra Jet shares at least 75 per cent of its V8’s components with the new Mustang GT, which goes on sale here in December.
The COPO Camaro and the Cobra Jet Mustang are factory-built race cars and if the rivalry goes as planned, they’ll be beating the hell out of each other down drag strips all over the US.
Ford reignited the modern Cobra Jet in 2008 with limited production that year of 50 cars. Ford again limited production to 50 cars in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. For 2016, the car is available in Oxford White or Deep Impact Blue, with each colour limited to 25 examples.
The 2016 Cobra Jet features drag race-specific coil-over shocks and springs, lightweight racing brakes by Strange Engineering, 8.50-certified roll cage, Aeromotive fuel system with boot-mounted fuel cell, Corbeau FIA seats, five-point race harnesses and race-prepped automatic transmission.
Cobra Jet Mustangs are built at Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan and first deliveries are expected the first quarter of 2016.
The 2016 Cobra Jet is sold as a performance part without a VIN. You can order one by submitting a placeholder order for part number M-FR500-CJ through any North American Ford dealer if you have a cheque for $US99,990 ready.
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